Big Book of Chart Patterns
Big Book of Chart Patterns
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction 1
CHART PATTERNS
1. Broadening Bottoms 2
2. Broadening Tops 3
3. Bump-and-Run Reversal Bottoms 4
4. Bump-and-Run Reversal Tops 5
5. Cup and Handle 6
6. Cup and Handle (Inverted) 7
7. Diamond Bottoms 8
8. Diamond Tops 9
9. Double Bottom (Adam & Adam) 10
10. Double Bottom (Adam & Eve) 11
11. Double Bottom (Eve & Eve) 12
12. Double Tops (Adam & Adam) 13
13. Double Tops (Adam & Eve) 14
14. Double Tops (Eve & Eve) 15
15. Flags (Bullish) 16
16. Flags (Bearish) 17
17. Flags (High & Tight) 18
18. Gaps (Area) 19
19. Gaps (Breakaway) 20
20. Gaps (Continuation) 21
21. Gaps (Exhaustion) 22
22. Head & Shoulders (Inverted) 23
23. Head & Shoulders (Inverted Complex) 24
24. Head & Shoulders (Inverted Continuation) 25
25. Head & Shoulders 26
26. Head & Shoulders (Complex) 27
27. Horn Bottoms 28
28. Horn Tops 29
29. Island Reversals 30
30. Pennants (Bullish) 31
31. Pennants (Bearish) 32
32. Pipe Bottoms 33
33. Pipe Tops 34
34. Rectangle Bottoms 35
35. Rectangle Tops 36
36. Rounding Bottoms 37
37. Rounding Tops 38
38. Scallops (Ascending) 39
39. Scallops (Inverted Ascending) 40
40. Scallops (Descending) 41
41. Scallops (Inverted Descending) 42
42. Three Falling Peaks 43
43. Three Rising Valleys 44
44. Triangles (Ascending) 45
45. Triangles (Descending) 46
46. Triangles (Symmetrical) 47
47. Triple Bottoms 48
48. Triple Tops 49
49. Wedges (Falling) 50
50. Wedges (Rising) 51
Introduction
The origins of chart patterns can be found in the work of Charles Dow in a
series of articles published in his editorials for The Wall Street Journal from
1900-1902. His views were later developed into what is now known as “Dow
Theory.” Dow’s observations of price trends and his understanding or trend
based on the progression of peaks and troughs form the foundation for
modern-day technical analysis.
The observations that Dow made, and the methodologies found in technical
analysis are fractal in nature. This means that the techniques used can be
applied to any aggregation period whether its intraday, daily, weekly or
monthly.
As you study charts and look to identify patterns, you’ll want to spend time to
identify the successive peaks and troughs or highs and lows. Also, as part of
your pattern recognition it is important to be able to identify the previous
trend based on the aggregation period being used. The combination of the
previous trend and the current highs and lows will form the foundation for
proper chart pattern recognition.
Pattern Description: This pattern forms at the tail end of a downtrend. The
pattern takes on the appearance of a megaphone as the price forms a series of
higher highs and lower lows throughout the formation. The pattern needs at
least two highs and lows to be a valid formation.
2.
Directional Bias: Bearish
Pattern Type: Reversal
Pattern Description: This pattern forms at the tail end of an uptrend. The
pattern takes on the appearance of a megaphone as the price forms a series of
higher highs and lower lows throughout the formation. The pattern needs at
least two highs and lows to be a valid formation.
3.
Directional Bias: Bullish
Pattern Type: Non-Directional
5.
Directional Bias: Bullish
Pattern Type: Continuation
Volume Description: Volume will typically follow the shape of the cup, with
high volume as the left lip forms, falling volume as the bottom of the cup
forms and rising volume toward the right lip and on the breakout.
Breakout Confirmation: A close above the upper trend-line drawn across the
handle with above average volume.
Measuring Technique: The price target is obtained by measuring the right lip
to the bottom of the cup and then added to the price level of the right lip.
Statistical Notes: The pattern has a low failure rate but doesn’t move as
strongly as other patterns. Patterns with shorter handles perform better than
longer handles, and deeper cups with the left lip slightly higher than the right
lip perform better.
6.
Directional Bias: Bearish
Pattern Type: Continuation
Volume Description: Volume will typically follow the opposite of the shape
of the cup, with high volume as the left lip forms, falling volume as the
rounded top of the cup forms and rising volume toward the right lip and on
the breakout.
Breakout Confirmation: A close below the lower trend-line drawn across the
handle with above average volume.
Measuring Technique: The price target is obtained by measuring the right lip
to the top of the cup and then subtracted from the price level of the right lip.
Statistical Notes: The pattern has a low failure rate but doesn’t move as
strongly as other patterns. Patterns with shorter handles perform better than
longer handles, and deeper cups with the left lip slightly lower than the right
lip perform better.
7.
Directional Bias: Bullish
Pattern Type: Reversal
Statistical Notes: Breakouts nears the 1-year low typically outperform, and
throwbacks following the breakout generally hurt performance. The pattern
has a low failure rate with decent upside potential but tend to fall-back once
the target high is reached. Formations with more range between highs and
lows perform better than shorter ranges.
8.
Directional Bias: Bearish
Pattern Type: Reversal
Statistical Notes: Breakouts near the 1-year high typically outperform, and
pullbacks following the breakout generally hurt performance. The pattern has
a low failure rate with decent upside potential but tend to fallback once the
target high is reached. Formations with more range between highs and lows
perform better than shorter ranges.
9.
Directional Bias: Bullish
Pattern Type: Reversal
Pattern Description: This pattern occurs within the context of a longer
downtrend. The pattern forms two equal lows with each low forming a v-
shaped bottom with a single day’s candle touching the low.
Volume Description: Volume tends to drift downward during the formation
and expand on the breakout.
Breakout Confirmation: A close above the upper trend-line drawn
horizontally across the intervening high between the lows with above average
volume.
Measuring Technique: Measure the distance between the high and the two
lows and add it to the breakout level.
Statistical Notes: Formations with more range between highs and lows
perform better than shorter ranges.
10.
Directional Bias: Bullish
Pattern Type: Reversal
11.
Directional Bias: Bullish
Pattern Type: Reversal
Pattern Description: This pattern occurs within the context of a longer
downtrend. The pattern forms two equal lows with each low forming a wider,
rounded bottom.
Volume Description: Volume tends to drift downward during the formation
and expand on the breakout.
Breakout Confirmation: A close above the upper trend-line drawn
horizontally across the intervening high between the lows with above average
volume.
Measuring Technique: Measure the distance between the high and the two
lows and add it to the breakout level.
Statistical Notes: Formations with more range between highs and lows
perform better than shorter ranges.
12.
Directional Bias: Bearish
Pattern Type: Reversal
Pattern Description: This pattern occurs within the context of a longer
uptrend. The pattern forms two equal highs with each high forming a v-
shaped top with a single day’s candle touching the high.
Volume Description: Volume tends to drift downward during the formation
and expand on the breakout.
Breakout Confirmation: A close below the lower trend-line drawn
horizontally across the intervening low between the highs with above average
volume.
Measuring Technique: Measure the distance between the low and the two
highs and subtract it from the breakout level.
Statistical Notes: Formations with more range between highs and lows
perform better than shorter ranges.
13.
Directional Bias: Bearish
Pattern Type: Reversal
14.
Directional Bias: Bearish
Pattern Type: Reversal
Pattern Description: This pattern occurs within the context of a longer
uptrend. The pattern forms two equal highs with each high forming a wider,
more rounded top.
Volume Description: Volume tends to drift downward during the formation
and expand on the breakout.
Breakout Confirmation: A close below the lower trend-line drawn
horizontally across the intervening low between the highs with above average
volume.
Measuring Technique: Measure the distance between the low and the two
highs, and subtract it from the breakout level.
Statistical Notes: Formations with more range between highs and lows
perform better than shorter ranges.
15.
Directional Bias: Bullish
Pattern Type: Continuation
Statistical Notes: Formations with more range between highs and lows
perform better than shorter ranges. Flag formations that breakout in the
direction of the prevailing market trend tend to perform better, and flags
without gaps tend to perform better.
16.
Directional Bias: Bearish
Pattern Type: Continuation
Statistical Notes: Formations with more range between highs and lows
perform better than shorter ranges. Flag formations that breakout in the
direction of the prevailing market trend tend to perform better, and flags
without gaps tend to perform better. Bull flags typically perform better than
bear flags.
17.
Directional Bias: Bullish
Pattern Type: Continuation
Pattern Description: This pattern is represented by a narrow consolidation
range that may last from several days to several weeks following a doubling
in the stock price.
Volume Description: Volume tends to drift downward during the formation
and expand on the breakout.
Breakout Confirmation: A close above the upper trend-line drawn across the
highs with above average volume.
Measuring Technique: Measure the length of the previous trend from low to
high leading into the flag, and then add one-half that amount to the breakout
level.
Statistical Notes: Formations with less range between highs and lows perform
better than wider ranges. Throwbacks hurt performance.
18.
Directional Bias: Non-Directional
Pattern Type: Reversal
Pattern Description: Area gaps are common gaps that occur within or just
following a consolidation. An area gap is identified by the hook in the price
that typically occurs within a week to fill the gap.
Volume Description: Volume tends to be high on the gap day but levels off
quickly.
Breakout Confirmation: A close above or below the high or low of the gap
day in the opposite direction of the gap.
Measuring Technique: The expectations for movement is the price closing
the gap and the price returning to the pre-gap level.
Statistical Notes: Bearish and bullish area gaps typically fill within a week
nearly 90% of the time regardless of the prevailing market direction.
19.
Directional Bias: Non-Directional
Pattern Type: Continuation
Statistical Notes: Breakaway gaps tend to not close the gap quickly, often
times taking six months or longer. Larger gaps tend to perform better than
smaller gaps, and gaps that occur near a 12-month high or low perform bette
20
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Directional Bias: Non-Directional
Pattern Type: Continuation
Volume Description: Volume tends to be high on the gap day, but not
unusually high.
Breakout Confirmation: A gap in price to a new high or low on higher
volume in the middle of a trend. The price subsequently holds the gap level.
Measuring Technique: Since the move occurs in the middle of the trend, the
projection would be the prior move to the middle of the gap and then added
or subtracted from that middle value.
Statistical Notes: The bearish gap size in bear markets tends to be larger than
bullish gaps in bullish markes.
21.
Directional Bias: Non-Directional
Pattern Type: Reversal
Pattern Description: Exhaustion gaps are gaps that occur later in the trend—
which tend to be larger in size and pause for a couple days following the gap
before forming a new high or low.
Volume Description: Most exhaustion gaps occur on high volume, and
represent the last “gasp” before the trend ends.
Measuring Technique: The target price is the high or low of the day prior to
the gap.
Statistical Notes: Within one week nearly two-thirds of exhaustion gaps
close, and within two weeks over 90% of gaps close.
22.
Directional Bias: Bullish
Pattern Type: Reversal
Volume Description: Volume tends to be high leading into the down move of
the first shoulder, diminishes as the price rises completing the left shoulder, is
balanced during the formation of the head, and expands as the price breaks
above the neckline.
23.
Directional Bias: Bullish
Pattern Type: Reversal
24.
Directional Bias: Bullish
Pattern Type: Continuation
Volume Description: Volume tends to be high leading into the down move of
the first shoulder, diminishes as the price rises completing the left shoulder, is
balanced during the formation of the head, and expands as the price breaks
above the neckline.
25.
Directional Bias: Bearish
Pattern Type: Reversal
Volume Description: Volume tends to be high leading into the upward move
of the first shoulder, diminishes as the price falls completing the left
shoulder, is balanced during the formation of the head, and expands as the
price breaks below the neckline.
26.
Directional Bias: Bearish
Pattern Type: Reversal
27.
Directional Bias: Bullish
Pattern Type: Reversal
Pattern Description: This pattern is formed on a weekly chart with two
downward price spikes separated by a week. The center week should form
significantly higher low than the other two weeks.
Volume Description: Volume tends to be higher on the first downward spike
and lower on the second.
Breakout Confirmation: A close above the highest high within the 3-week
range.
Measuring Technique: The price target is set by taking the difference
between the highest high and lowest low in the 3-week period, and then
adding that amount to the highest high.
Statistical Notes: Horn formations perform best when the right spike range
falls within the range of the left
28.
Directional Bias: Bearish
Pattern Type: Reversal
Pattern Description: This is a rare pattern that is formed on a weekly chart
with two upward price spikes separated by a week. The center week should
form significantly lower high than the other two weeks.
Volume Description: Volume tends to be higher on the first upward spike and
lower on the second.
Breakout Confirmation: A close above the lowest low within the 3-week
range.
Measuring Technique: The price target is set by taking the difference
between the highest high and lowest low in the 3-week period, and then
subtracting that amount from the lowest low. Statistical Notes: Horn
formations perform best when the left spike range falls within the range of
the right
29.
Directional Bias: Non-Directional
Pattern Type: Reversal
Volume Description: Volume tends to decline after the initial surge on the
first gap, and then expands on the second gap.
Breakout Confirmation: A gap to the previous level before the initial gap
with above average volume.
Measuring Technique: Take the range between the highest high and low of
the island and add or subtract that amount from the highest high or low
depending on whether it is a bullish or bearish gap.
Statistical Notes: Pullback and throwbacks hurt performance, and short
patterns with a wider range from high to low perform best.
30.
Directional Bias: Bullish
Pattern Type: Continuation
Statistical Notes: Formations with more range between highs and lows
perform better than shorter ranges. Pennant formations that breakout in the
direction of the prevailing market trend tend to perform better, and pennants
without gaps tend to perform better. 31
31.
Directional Bias: Bearish
Pattern Type: Continuation
Statistical Notes: Formations with more range between highs and lows
perform better than shorter ranges. Pennant formations that breakout in the
direction of the prevailing market trend tend to perform better, and pennants
without gaps tend to perform better.
32.
Directional Bias: Bullish
Pattern Type: Reversal
Pattern Description: Two consecutive downward intra-week price spikes on a
weekly chart.
Volume Description: Volume tends to be higher for the left spike than the
right, but both weeks tend to have above average volume.
Breakout Confirmation: A close above the highest high of the two weekly
spikes with above average volume.
Measuring Technique: Subtract the height of the highest high and lowest low
of the two pipes, and then add it to the highest high.
Statistical Notes: Throwbacks hurt performance, and wider ranges between
highs and lows perform better than shorter ranges. A right spike range that
falls within the range of the left spike performs best.
33.
Directional Bias: Bearish
Pattern Type: Reversal
Pattern Description: Two consecutive upward intra-week price spikes on a
weekly chart.
Volume Description: Volume tends to be higher for the left spike than the
right, but both weeks tend to have above average volume.
Breakout Confirmation: A close below the lowest low of the two weekly
spikes with above average volume.
Measuring Technique: Subtract the height of the highest high and lowest low
of the two pipes, and then subtract it from the lowest low.
Statistical Notes: Throwbacks hurt performance, and wider ranges between
highs and lows perform better than shorter ranges. A right spike range that
falls within the range of the left spike performs best. 34
34.
Directional Bias: Bullish or Bearish
Pattern Type: Reversal or Continuation
35.
Directional Bias: Bullish or Bearish
Pattern Type: Reversal or Continuation
36.
Directional Bias: Bullish
Pattern Type: Continuation
Pattern Description: A Rounding Bottom pattern is a continuation pattern of
the prevailing uptrend. The pattern forms a concave or “rounded” bottom to
its price.
Volume Description: Volume will tend to mirror the price as it rises and falls
with the price then expands on the breakout.
Breakout Confirmation: The confirmation for this pattern is a close above the
lip of the Rounding Bottom on above average volume. This can be difficult at
times when there isn’t an apparent lip on the left-hand side of the formation.
Measuring Technique: Subtract the height of the highest high and lowest low
of the Rounding Bottom and then add that to the breakout level.
Statistical Notes: Throwbacks hurt performance, and patterns with wide
ranges between highs and lows or
37.
Directional Bias: Bearish
Pattern Type: Continuation
Pattern Description: A Rounding Top pattern is a continuation pattern of the
prevailing downtrend. The pattern forms a concave or “rounded” top to its
price.
Volume Description: Volume will tend to have a u-shaped pattern and
expand on the breakout.
Breakout Confirmation: The confirmation for this pattern is a close below the
lip of the Rounding Top on above average volume. This can be difficult at
times when there isn’t an apparent lip on the left-hand side of the formation.
Measuring Technique: Subtract the height of the highest high and lowest low
of the Rounding Top and then subtract that from the breakout level.
Statistical Notes: Throwbacks hurt performance, and patterns with wide
ranges between highs and lows or
38.
Directional Bias: Bearish
Pattern Type: Reversal
Pattern Description: A Scallop forms a high, corrects a little before forming a
higher high. The pattern looks like the letter “J.”
Volume Description: Volume will tend to mirror the price as it rises and falls
with the price then expands on the breakout.
Breakout Confirmation: The confirmation for this pattern is a close below the
rising J formation on above average volume.
Measuring Technique: Subtract the height of the highest high and lowest low
of the pattern and then subtract that value from the breakout level.
Statistical Notes: Breakouts near a 1-year low perform best along with taller
formations with a rising volume
39.
Directional Bias: Bullish
Pattern Type: Continuation
Pattern Description: The pattern occurs within an uptrend and looks like a
backwards and upside-down J with the price rising to a rounded high and a
slight decline.
Volume Description: Volume will tend experience a rising volume trend and
expand on the breakout.
Breakout Confirmation: The confirmation for this pattern is a close above the
rounded top of the formation on above average volume.
Measuring Technique: Subtract the height of the highest high and lowest low
of the pattern and then add that value to the breakout level.
Statistical Notes: Breakouts near a 1-year high perform best along with taller
formations with a rising volume
40.
Directional Bias: Bearish
Pattern Type: Continuation
Pattern Description: A Scallop occurs within a downtrend and is formed as
the price falls before forming a rounded bottom and then corrects upward.
The pattern looks like a backwards letter “J.”
Volume Description: Volume will tend to be dome-shaped and expand on the
breakout.
Breakout Confirmation: The confirmation for this pattern is a close below the
rising backwards J formation on above average volume.
Measuring Technique: Subtract the height of the highest high and lowest low
of the pattern and then subtract that value from the breakout level.
Statistical Notes: Breakout day gaps on high volume perform best. 41
41.
Directional Bias: Bearish
Pattern Type: Continuation
Pattern Description: The pattern occurs within a downtrend and looks like an
upside-down J with the price rising slightly to a rounded high and a larger
decline.
Volume Description: Volume will tend experience a u-shaped volume trend
and expand on the breakout.
Breakout Confirmation: The confirmation for this pattern is a close below the
low of the upside-down J on above average volume, following a short bullish
bounce in the price.
Measuring Technique: Subtract the height of the highest high and lowest low
of the pattern and then subtract that value from the breakout level.
Statistical Notes: Breakouts near a 1-year low perform best along with taller
formations with a u-shaped volume trend.
42.
Directional Bias: Bearish
Pattern Type: Reversal
Pattern Description: A pattern of three proportionally lower highs that
typically occur at the end of an uptrend.
Volume Description: The pattern performs best with a u-shaped volume trend
and expands on the breakout.
Breakout Confirmation: The confirmation for this pattern is a close below the
lowest low of the formation on above average volume.
Measuring Technique: Subtract the height of the highest high and lowest low
of the pattern and then subtract this amount from the breakout level. With this
pattern, the measured move isn’t achieved with regularity.
Statistical Notes: Short and narrow patterns with u-shaped volume perform
best.
43.
Directional Bias: Bullish
Pattern Type: Reversal
Pattern Description: A pattern of three proportionally higher lows that
typically occur at the end of a downtrend.
Volume Description: The pattern typically exhibits a dome-shaped volume
trend during the formation and expands on the breakout.
Breakout Confirmation: The confirmation for this pattern is a close below the
highest high of the formation on above average volume.
Measuring Technique: Subtract the height of the highest high and lowest low
of the pattern and then add this amount to the breakout level. With this
pattern, the measured move isn’t achieved with regularity.
Statistical Notes: Breakouts near one-year highs perform best. Wide ranges
between highs and lows with ushaped volume do well.
44.
Directional Bias: Bullish
Pattern Type: Continuation
45.
Directional Bias: Bearish
Pattern Type: Continuation
46.
Directional Bias: Bullish or Bearish
Pattern Type: Continuation or Reversal
47.
Directional Bias: Bullish
Pattern Type: Reversal
Pattern Description: This pattern occurs within the context of a longer
downtrend. The pattern forms three equal lows.
Volume Description: Volume tends to drift downward during the formation
and expand on the breakout.
Breakout Confirmation: A close above the upper trend-line drawn
horizontally across the intervening highs between the lows with above
average volume.
Measuring Technique: Measure the distance between the high and the two
lows and add it to the breakout level.
Statistical Notes: Formations with more range between highs and lows
perform better than shorter ranges. Formations with declining volume with
heavy volume on the left bottom performs better.
48.
Directional Bias: Bearish
Pattern Type: Reversal
Pattern Description: This pattern occurs within the context of a longer
uptrend. The pattern forms three equal highs.
Volume Description: Volume tends to drift downward during the formation
and expand on the breakout.
Breakout Confirmation: A close below the lower trend-line drawn
horizontally across the intervening lows between the highs with above
average volume.
Measuring Technique: Measure the distance between the low and the two
highs and subtract it from the breakout level.
Statistical Notes: Formations with more range between highs and lows
perform better than shorter ranges. Formations with declining volume with
heavy volume on the left top performs better.
49.
Directional Bias: Bullish
Pattern Type: Continuation
50.
Directional Bias: Bearish
Pattern Type: Continuation